Landscape tools & techniques

Practical tools and techniques help practitioners and decision-makers better understand, and manage, the effects of change on the landscape.  These techniques also help us to understand what is special or distinct about landscapes.  This can lead to proposals for enhancing and safeguarding landscapes, for example as part of the environmental benefits of a new development, or informing the designation of landscapes for protection.

Landscape, planning and design professionals use standard and well-tested techniques of landscape assessment to identify suitable locations for new development, and ensure that it is designed to fit into the landscape.  Planning Authorities can help developers by producing guidance which explains how these techniques should be used in their area.  This might be through supplementary planning guidance, or site specific design statements for developers.

Techniques have been developed around two complementary approaches.  One method is based on describing landscape character and assessing how this may change without making judgements about whether one landscape is 'better' than another.  Other approaches look at the qualities that make some landscapes special, often leading to a designation.

For more details on tools and techniques follow the links:

Landscape capacity and sensitivity

Techniques for assessing the sensitivity and capacity of landscapes to change

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment

Information about this technique and how it is used

Environmental assessment

How this process is used to consider the effects of development on landscape

Landscape evaluation

Approaches to valuing landscapes

Masterplanning

Find out about how this approach can be used to safeguard and enhance landscapes

Related Links

Involving communities

Ways of involving communities in managing landscape change

Landscape Character Assessment

A standardised way of describing and mapping landscapes - used in many tools and techniques.